Zamora plays down England talk

02 May 2010 14:29:00

Fulham's Bobby Zamora has played down his chances of being selected for Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.
The forward has enjoyed a remarkable season for the Cottagers, netting 19 times during a campaign in which he has helped the club reach the final of the Europa League.
The contribution of Zamora to the Fulham cause has led some to call for his inclusion in the 23-man party for the World Cup next month.
Zamora endured a barren spell in front of goal last season - scoring just twice in 35 appearances - but the 29-year-old says his revival under manager Roy Hodgson counts for little where England is concerned.
"Let's get one thing straight, if you asked at the start of the season who would be scoring goals they wouldn't say Bobby Zamora," the former Brighton man told the News of the World.
"I've had a good season, but to me the goals are just numbers on a piece of paper. I hold the ball up, I create chances for other people but the difference this season is that the ball's gone in the back of the net."
Zamora would face a massive challenge to force himself into Capello's reckoning, with the likes of Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent, Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole all vying to join the inclusion of Premier League top scorer Wayne Rooney.
And while he admitted flirting with the idea of inclusion in the England fold for the March friendly with Egypt, Zamora insists he does not think about turning out for the Three Lions.
The London-born forward believes the strong pool of competition means he is unlikely to take a seat on the plane to South Africa - and insisted he would not be pushing his own case to the Italian manager.
"I never think about England - ever," he added. "Most English strikers in the Premier League have already played for the country and they will all be ahead of me.
"Darren Bent has scored more than 20 goals this season and hasn't had a look-in apart from playing against Brazil.
"After that there is Heskey, Crouch, Carlton Cole, Gabby Agbonlahor and then there's Rooney. I look at their performances and - with the exception of Rooney - I feel I'm on a par with the rest. That's the way I see it. I've had a decent season and that's it.
"I thought Egypt was a possibility in March, but it didn't happen. I'm not beating myself up about it. Playing for Fulham won't make a difference, he will pick me if he wants to.
"I've had no communication with England, but why would I? It's not down to me, I'm not going to ask someone to send Fabio Capello a DVD of my goals."